Cycling

This began when I was 3. That small plastic bike for kids gave me the same feeling as I got when I had bought my new Claud Butler. First plastic 3-wheel bike, then a bigger three-wheel one: without tubes, just on rubber cords - it was ugly and uncomfortable, but I loved it. It later was converted into a two-wheel device - my first feeling of the true bike balance! Then "adult" bikes like "Shkolnik" and "Salyut" (the latter was a real success of the Russian industry), and then a present from my grandma: my first mountain bike, heavy and simple stainless-steel VM which nevertheless helped me to participate in four marathons in 1999: 200, 300, 400, and 600km. Yeah, I did it :) Got four nice medals (a 600km story published in the 'Voronezh University' newspaper). I should participate in the final Paris-Brest-Paris marathon, and I even got an official invitation, but had no money for the trip to France... Was so poor... Anyway, later I visited Paris :o) Back to bikes... Then a good Wheeler (10,000km in one year) which was stolen, then a Taiwan (though with Shimano double wheels) bike which was almost down when I left it in December 2005 after PhD course. Then Claud Butler, a trusty friend for another 5 years.

Suffered several sport traumas and injuries, mainly in the head: sport injury in 1996 (concussion), struck by car in 1998 (an elderly driver didn't keep the roundabout), struck by truck in 1998 (drunk driver turned right onto me), road accident in 2001 (failure of automatic road barrier: it fell onto my head when I crossed the road), road accident on 02.08.2002 (road fault, facial surgery), struck by bus on 07.06.2008 (woman-driver entered the bicycle lane), slipped on uneven wet tiles in gym and fractured skull on 14.06.2022. It is interesting that Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was born on the same day July 30, too underwent facial surgery (genioplasty) and suffered many injuries (sport and road accidents). This is the influence of our common birth star Praesepe (7th degree of Leo).

On May 26th, 2010, my first Brompton was stolen in London (at noon under CCTV, with many pedestrians around seeing the thief - still, police were unable to catch him). In July 2010 I bought a new Brompton with which I participated in the Brompton World Championship 2010 and got a medal.

In May 2011, my Claud Butler was stolen (in front of the Royal Theatre, while I was attending a performance - two locks were cut). On July 30, 2011, I bought a new Bianchi Camaleonte, a great bike which feels as an aircraft in hands. Happy riding!

TOURS:

          Some of the tours are described here.

CHAMPIONSHIPS